Once upon more desperate times sleepy villages of Britain found themselves on the frontline of the World War. One of those villages, Paddlesworth, is not quite famous enough for its “highest church, lowest steeple, poorest parish, fewest people” and the Cat and a Custard Pot – local pub that became a favourite watering hole by pilots and officers based on nearby Hawkinge aerodrome.

The highest free house in Kent, Cat and the Custard Pot, has a long history and many stories of how it got its name. One of the rumours goes it was originally called Red Lion Inn, yet changed its name to Cat and Custard pot after local artist’s depiction of the lion on the pub sign. Witty local residents decided that the lion on the new sign closely resembled local ginger cat, who once fell into a custard pot, and rechristened their local to The Cat.

Local fox hounds group held meetings in the pub for as long as it goes and at some point in its history the announcement of their meeting, printed in local paper, called this free house Cat and the Mustard Pot, yet this is the only evidence of mysterious change of name and could have been just a curious printers error.

Now pub is full of war time photographs and memorabilia. It still has some original elements of art-deco interior details and is worth visiting for its true country pub atmosphere and few drinks.

Due to unpredictable nature of small country pubs author recommends to check opening times and food and drinks options before visiting to ensure realistic expectations of the experience.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/significant-events/battle-of-britain-map/: Battle’s of Britain Local. http://www.dover-kent.com/Cat-and-Custard-Pot-Paddlesworth.html#:~:text=This%20public%20house%20was%20used,during%20the%20last%20100%20years.: Battle’s of Britain Local.